Flexible Learning

If you are considering taking a Distance Education course with us, please read the How Flexible Learning Works section of the Student Handbook for an explanation of how our courses are taught. Many common questions about our Flexible Learning distance courses are answered on our Frequently Asked Questions page, or you may send us your question via our Contact Us page, or call the phone number at the bottom of this page during normal business hours.

If you are a new student and have enrolled in a Flexible Learning class, you may log into our Online Services using your UF GatorLink account.

If you have problems logging in, please contact us so we may set up your account.

Are you taking an online course using a LEARNING MANAGMENT SYSTEM (LMS)?

LMS courses are online Distance Learning courses delivered using UF's E-Learning system and/or another LMS. All lessons are in the LMS and assignments are to be submitted via the LMS as well.

If you are enrolled in an LMS course you were sent an email from learn@dce.ufl.edu with detailed instructions for accessing your course. Once you have completed the tasks in this email and have received confirmation from us, you can login to your course.

Access the E-learning system »

Some Flexible Learning online courses will use an LMS other than UF's E-learning system. Specific access and login instructions will be provided where this is the case.

LMS students may also use their GatorLink IDs to log in to Flexible Learning's Online Services site to view proctored exams and final grades.

Access the Online Services site »

1. Browse our Course Listings

2. Register

3. Begin the Course

4. Complete the Course

The University of Florida's online Learning Management System is called Sakai. Sakai allows students and instructors to easily share files, post and view grades, and communicate with each other about the course. In order to take one of our online courses, follow the steps below.

1. Browse our Course Listings

2. Register

3. Begin the Course

4. Complete the Course

How to Submit Written Assignments

Most Flexible Learning courses have a limit on how many lessons may be submitted per week. Feedback on past assignments will help you in preparing future ones. You should make and retain a copy of each assignment before you submit it. Should an assignment be lost, you will be required to resubmit it.

Please note: Students must complete all assignments leading up to the examinations and final. If a student completes an examination or final before completing the required preceding coursework, the instructor will assign a failing grade for the missing assignments.

Flexible Learning Options for Submitting Assignments:

Online Courses:

All assignments for online courses are submitted via the learning management system. The directions will be provided in the course syllabus and also within the assignment area of your course.

Submitting A Print Based Assignment Only:

Log on now »

With few exceptions, students of print-based courses now submit their written assignments online. Online submission provides quicker instructor feedback and the possibility of completing the course in a more timely manner. When registering for courses, be sure to provide our office with an up-to-date e-mail address. Once your registration has been processed, log onto our website to upload your assignments, view your grades, request exams, and perform a number of other activities. If we do not have an e-mail address on file for you, contact our office so that we can update your records. Please remember to submit only the assignment itself, not the entire study guide.

Submitting Print Based Assignments via Mail:

This option is available only if the student does not have access to the Internet. Complete and attach a assignment cover sheet from the back of the course study guide to each assignment and mail it to the Flexible Learning office. Please do not include administrative or financial paperwork in envelopes with assignments. Send these separately to the Flexible Learning office. Send your lessons to the address below:

Flexible Learning
2124 NE Waldo Road, Suite 1101
Gainesville, FL 32609

Submitting Assignments via Fax:

If the student does not have access to online submission, assignments may be faxed to the Flexible Learning office. When faxing assignments, attach a fax cover sheet indicating how many total pages are being sent. In addition to the fax cover sheet, be sure to complete and fax the assignment cover sheet as well. Faxed assignments or questions will be returned through regular mail. Our fax number is (352) 392-6950.

Testing Centers

The Flexible Learning office, located in Gainesville, FL, has an on-site testing room for your convenience. Contact Student Services to schedule an examination by telephone (long distance toll-free 1-800-327-4218 or locally 392-1711), or by email. Tests are administered at this Office Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Twenty-four hours notice must be given prior to taking an exam.

Note: Students currently residing in Alachua County or enrolled at UF must take their exams at the Flexible Learning office.

Formal examinations for Flexible Learning courses are administered by a proctor, and are designated as "proctored exams" in the course materials. A proctor is someone who facilitates and watches over the examination to ensure that no improprieties take place. All proctors must be qualified professionals (see "Choosing a Proctor" below) and will be verified by our office before sending the examination.

If you take your exam at the Flexible Learning office, we will proctor the exam for you. No testing fee will apply. However, if you are unable to come to our facility, or if you choose not to take your exam at our testing center, you will need to select a proctor and a testing site. Examinations cannot be taken in a private location, such as someone's home or office.

Choosing a Proctor

Persons qualified to serve as proctors include (but are not limited to):

Other proctor options include: officials of colleges and universities (such as deans, department chairs, registrars) or, for incarcerated students, the education officer or librarian.

If you are uncertain of the qualifications of a proctor, or if you have difficulty locating a proctor, contact The Flexible Learning Office for assistance (800-327-4218).

Note: Your friends and relatives are not permitted to proctor your exams.

Approved Testing Facilities in Florida

Following is a listing of some approved testing facilities in Florida. Some of these centers charge for their services. Note that you are not required to use these Centers.

In order to insure that you receive college credit towards your major for correspondence courses, you must receive approval from either your academic advisor from your college or your department chairperson prior to registering for correspondence courses. Distance and Continuing Education is not responsible for insuring that the credit you receive is transferable. This is the responsibility of the student.

UF Students: read carefully the UF Policies section of the Student Handbook before enrolling.

For students intending to apply for admission to UF:

Please be advised that Flexible Learning courses cannot be used for credit toward admission. Courses taken through our program will remain permanently on the student's transcript and may impact future acceptance to UF. Please contact our office for additional clarification.

For academic advising:

Please speak to an academic advisor to discuss your academic goals, career interests, priorities and responsibilities, and expectations, and--if you are a non-UF student--to learn more about your institution's policies and procedures regarding transfer credit. Contact information for selected Florida universities is provided below. Please don't hesitate to call our office if you have a question about one of our courses.

Writing and Math Requirement Courses

The State of Florida requires that all students complete a writing and math requirement, formerly known as the Gordon Rule.

Writing Requirement: The Distance Education courses (to the right) fulfill Writing requirement for the number of words indicated. In order to graduate, Florida college students must complete, with a grade of C or higher, courses that involve substantial writing totaling 24,000 words.

Math Requirement: Students must take six credits of course work in math at or above college algebra level.

Courses taken to fulfill writing and math requirements cannot be taken S-U.

For more information about Writing/Math Rule or General Education requirements, visit the UF Undergraduate Catalog.

General Education Courses

The Distance Education courses (to the right) fulfill General Education requirements. The General Education program requires courses in the following areas:

For more information about Gordon Rule or General Education requirements, visit the UF Undergraduate Catalog.

Important Dates for College Courses

Note: These policies apply only to students enrolled in college credit courses.

Our college credit courses are designed to provide the equivalent of one semester of college credit instruction. In order to ensure your success, it is important that you establish a regular study schedule as soon as you receive your materials, monitor your progress closely, and don't lose track of your time. A Personal Study Schedule is included in our study guides for your convenience.

Completion Times and Grade Policies for College Enrollments

• Students may enroll in Flexible Learning courses at any time and can complete within 16 weeks from the date of enrollment
• Each student is allowed 16 weeks to complete a course. If the course is not completed within sixteen weeks, the student will be assigned a failing grade ("E"). If the student has made sufficient academic progress, which is defined as completing at least 50% of the course, the instructor may grant the student an additional 16 weeks to complete the course
• If the course is not completed at the end of the second 16-week period, the instructor will assign a failing grade

Important Dates to Remember

• Enrollment Begins - the date that you enrolled.
• Refund Policy - full refund, minus a $25 drop fee, within 30 days of enrollment; written request required.*
• Transfer Policy - within 30 days of enrollment; once per course; a $50.00 transfer fee applies; written request required.*
• Withdrawal Policy - within 14 weeks of enrollment and BEFORE the student requests to take the final; a "W" will be recorded on transcript; written request required. (Please note: UF students need academic approval to drop a course.)*
• Exam Proctoring - students currently residing in Alachua County or enrolled at UF must take their exams at the Distance and Continuing Education office.
• Grade Posting - final grades are posted to the term in which you enroll, regardless of the term in which the course is completed, as determined by the university calendar.

*Students may email, fax, or mail all correspondence to the addresses on our Contact Us page.

Financial Aid

• Federal financial aid guidelines require that students seeking aid complete courses within the academic semester in which they enrolled. Therefore, any students seeking financial aid for a correspondence course should enroll at the beginning of a semester and complete before the end of that semester.
  
  
• Financial aid will not pay for a correspondence course until it has been completed.

University of Florida Students

UF Students should speak with a representative from the Student Financial Affairs Office to determine if financial aid can be applied towards correspondence courses.

Non-UF Students

Non-UF Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid office at their home institution to determine if any financial aid can be applied towards correspondence courses.

Financial Aid Offices at Florida Universities:

• Florida A & M University
• Florida Atlantic University
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Florida International University
• Florida State University
• University of Central Florida
• University of North Florida
• University of South Florida
• University of West Florida

Plagiarism Alert!

Did you know that more and more students are getting caught plagiarizing their writing assignments, papers, and reports, especially because faculty now possess more sophisticated online tools to detect plagiarism?

Don't get caught! Make the smart choice and just don't do it!

While there are serious academic consequences for students caught plagiarizing (see the Student Honor Code), one of the most compelling arguments for you should be the importance of safeguarding your own academic integrity and honesty, and to promote your own active learning and education.

What is plagiarism?

Simply put, "plagiarism is using others' ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information". Please review the University Libraries Plagiarism Tutorial for a fuller explanation but, in short, give credit where due. And use your own words! Inject direct quotes sparingly and only to punch out main points, and of course be sure quotes are properly cited.

Online Library Resources and Services for Students taking Credit Courses*

Distance Services

UF George A. Smathers Libraries

Library Research 101

*Note: UF library services are available only to students enrolled in credit courses.

UF transcripts cannot be released until all UF obligations are satisfied. If necessary, contact University Financial Services, 113 Criser Hall, (352) 392-0181. A non-refundable payment must accompany each order: $6.00 per transcript for current students and $12 per transcript for students who have not been registered at UF for more than two terms.

There are several ways to request a transcript.

• The best best way to obtain an official University of Florida transcript is through the online ordering system. The transcript link can be found on ISIS under My Record in the left-hand menu at:
  
  http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/transcript.html.
  
  Please allow one week for your grade to be posted so that it will appear on your transcript. Your transcript view is available online from ISIS. Use this view to verify that your assigned grade has been posted on your official transcript prior to placing an order.
• You can also contact the UF Registrar at (352) 392-1374 ext. 7237, or use this mail-in form to request an official transcript.
• You may also request a transcript in writing: Transcript Requests, Office of the Registrar, University of Florida, 222 Criser, Gainesville, FL 32611. Be sure to provide your dates of enrollment, social security number, UFID (if you have one), date of birth, the address(es) to which the transcripts are to be sent, and your payment.

Please allow one week for your grade to be posted so that it will appear on your transcript.

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